Senior counsel voices concerns over Qld crown case management

Senior barrister Stephen Keim has been critical of the LNP Government's policies that ignore the orders of judges.

Liam Kidston: AAP - file image

A barrister who was rejected for a Queensland Government brief despite being recommended by senior crown lawyers says he worries about the appointment process.

Stephen Keim SC was asked to take on a brief representing the Office of Liquor and Gaming against Brisbane's Normanby Hotel.

He was recommended by a senior crown lawyer and crown solicitor Greg Cooper.

After agreeing to take on the brief, Mr Keim appeared on the ABC's PM program criticising the Newman Government over policies intended to keep sex offenders behind bars.

Emails show Justice Department director-general John Sosso chose to reject the crown solicitor's recommendation and gave the Normanby Hotel brief to Roger Traves QC.

"As far as I know, Roger is a very competent counsel and would be capable of carrying out the briefs," Mr Keim said.

"I think the problem I have with the process is that it's a strange form of micro-management which ultimately can lead to bad decisions being made in terms of using the best counsel for Government work.

I've never heard of it happening under any government of any colour.

Senior barrister Stephen Keim.

"I'm not sure that a head of department with all his other responsibilities, perhaps having a lot less day-to-day responsibility with litigation, would make the best decisions.

"So it's a process, if it were to be continued, [that] is likely to lead to bad decisions in the long run."

Mr Keim says he does not know why he was rejected.

"I speak fairly frequently in a public forum on human rights issues and rule of law issues so it's not surprising that at any time I might be critical of any Government with regard to those issues.

"But I can't know why the brief was taken away.

"I've never heard of that happening to anyone else and I've never heard it happening either at State or Territory or Commonwealth level," he said.

"I've never heard of it happening under any government of any colour."

State Government 'did not interfere'

Both Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie and Premier Campbell Newman today told State Parliament they did not interfere in the awarding of the legal brief.

Mr Newman says he was unaware of the issue.

"Madam Speaker, again, I don't know Mr Keim," he said.

"I don't know him, never met him, haven't heard what he's said.

"I don't think until today I've ever had a conversation with anybody about him.